UK - Cambridge, United Kingdom · 4 days ago
Design, develop and support end-to-end AI and mathematical optimisation solutions, including modelling and simulation, used across AstraZeneca. Work with engineering and product teams to deliver scalable tools and champion software engineering best practices.
Role: Associate Principal AI Engineer - Mathematical Optimisation Location: Cambridge UK Salary: Competitive + Excellent Benefits Do you have expertise in, and passion for Operations Research and AI? Would you like to apply your modelling expertise in a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life changing medicines? Then AstraZeneca might be the place for you! Disrupt an industry and change lives At AstraZeneca, we are committed to being a great place to work, where people are empowered to push the boundaries of science and make a meaningful impact on patients, medicine, and society. We foster an inclusive culture built on diversity, collaboration, and continuous learning. In technology, you will be encouraged to take ownership, challenge the status quo, and drive innovation. By enabling the business to operate faster and more effectively, you will help deliver solutions that ultimately improve lives around the world. What you’ll do The ideal candidate will bring proven experience in designing, developing, and supporting end-to-end AI and optimisation solutions across a broad range of business challenges. This role offers the opportunity to work on some of the most complex and high-impact AI and optimisation engineering problems in the pharmaceutical industry. As part of a global team of AI engineers, data scientists, scientists, and software developers, you will help design, build, and support tools that transform how AstraZeneca operates at scale, improving efficiency in our mission to benefit millions of patients worldwide. You will work closely with engineering and product teams to deliver and support scalable solutions within the AstraZeneca technology landscape, while championing software engineering best practices across the organisation. We are looking for an engineer who can build and maintain robust, accurate, and reliable end-to-end AI solutions used across AstraZeneca. You should be comfortable working with complex systems and applying AI and optimisation at scale to drive productivity and business impact. Key Accountabilities Contribute to design and development of end-to-end AI solutions that include mathematical optimisation, modelling, and simulation approaches. Visualise complex datasets and model outputs using the latest front-end technologies. Work together with senior optimisation engineers and AI engineers in the team, focused on product delivery and support. Liaise with other engineers to enhance our technological stack, to enable the adoption of the latest advances in AI and software engineering. Contribute to various solutions and applications that may cover a broad range of business areas, sometimes at once. Be self-driven, curious, innovative, deeply technical and learn continuously. Essential for the role Experience and demonstrable technical skills in developing operations research solutions for complex real-world problems. Demonstrated experience using mathematical optimisation software such as CPLEX, Gurobi, SCIP, or OR-Tools. Experience with heuristic and meta-heuristic algorithms as an alternative to the above software. A working knowledge of optimisation, simulation, and statistical concepts. A working knowledge of LLM tools. Experience in good software development practice, ideally including Python, and deployment practices such as CI/CD, testing, version control. A track record of understanding and translating complex business challenges into well-defined engineering problems. Creative, collaborative, & product focused. MSc or above. Desirable for the role Experience of adjacent topics such as control and robotics. Experience in the deployment of AI tools. Experience in developing and deploying interactive applications (e.g., full-stack apps, dashboarding). So, what’s next? Be part of something where your work directly impacts a big purpose: to develop life-changing medicines. Join Us! Where can I find out more? Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/1603/ Follow AstraZeneca on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/astrazenecacareers/ Follow AstraZeneca on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/astrazeneca_careers/?hl=en When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That’s why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we’re not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world. #LI-HYBIRD Date Posted 05-Nov-2026 Closing Date 20-Nov-2026 Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form. AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company. We focus on discovering, developing and commercialising prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we are more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. At AstraZeneca, we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science, challenge convention and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. To embrace differences and take bold actions to drive the change needed to meet global healthcare and sustainability challenges. There is no better place to make a difference in medicine, patients, and society. An inclusive culture where you will connect different thinking to generate new and valuable opportunities. Where you will find a commitment to lifelong learning, growth and development for all. Our Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) mission is to create an inclusive and equitable environment where people belong, using the power of our diversity to push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines to patients. Inclusion and diversity are fundamental to the success of our company, because innovation requires breakthrough ideas that only come from a diverse workforce empowered to challenge conventional thinking. We’re curious about science and the advancement of knowledge. We find creative ways to approach new challenges. We’re driven to make the right choices and be accountable for our actions. As an organisation centred around what makes us human, we put a big focus on people. Across our business, we want colleagues to wake up excited about their day at the office, in the field, or in the lab. Along with our purpose to bring life-changing medicines to people across the globe, we have a promise to you: to help you realise the full breadth of your potential. Here, you’ll do work that has the potential to change your life and improve countless others. And, together with your team, you’ll shape a culture that unites and inspires us every day. This is your life at AstraZeneca.
Posted Nov 4, 2026
